Introduction of a spatiotemporal Life Cycle Inventory method using a wind energy example

Abstract

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is "primarily a steady-state-tool" and few studies to date have included dynamic temporal and spatial information in matrix-based LCA. Because of this many environmental impacts cannot be determined accurately in conventional LCA. We have integrated both temporal and spatial information in a novel dynamical life cycle inventory (LCI) framework that can produce detailed spatiotemporal results and thus offering more insights for sustainability assessment. This framework employs the existing Enhanced Structural Path Analysis (ESPA) method combined with spatial analysis to determine spatialised LCI over time. Previously we tested this new approach with a local spatial dispersion model using wheat production as an illustration. In this paper we demonstrate the new spatiotemporal LCI method over an entire life cycle, using wind energy as an example and a different approach to spatial analysis at a global scale.